Futbol is life for DePauw senior midfielder Macy Miller as she found a new appreciation for the game she loves during her summer in Belfast, Northern Ireland. After spending last May term in Belfast through the Peace Players program, followed by a formative Spring semester abroad at Queen's University Belfast, Miller jumped at the opportunity to play soccer for the Belfast Ravens this past summer.
Miller's journey to playing for the Ravens began with a life-changing May term. Peace Players is a globally recognized program that aims to create peace within divided communities through the power of sport (Peace Players, 2025). Coach Bill Fenlon, former DePauw men's basketball coach, began The DePauw Exchange for Peace Players as an opportunity for DePauw student-athletes to create change in Northern Ireland. During Miller's time in the program, she fell in love with Belfast and knew she needed to plan another trip to Northern Ireland. When a Peace Players intern connected Miller with the Belfast Ravens to play on their team for the summer, it was the perfect opportunity for Miller to play the sport she loves and be in her favorite place in the world.
Belfast Ravens belong to the Northern Ireland Women's Futbol Association (NIWFA), which is committed to developing women's soccer in Northern Ireland. There are approximately 1,500 players over the age of 15 competing across the seven divisions (NIWFA, 2024). The league operates in multiple tiers, starting with the highest level, Championship, stretching from Division One to Division Seven (League Structure, 2025). Belfast Ravens have teams in the first, second, and third divisions, focusing their sights on developing older players. The Ravens typically hold one mandatory club practice a week, one to two games a week, and occasionally, private individual sessions. Most of Miller's teammates were 10 or more years older than her, with families and full-time jobs.
Miller gained a new perspective on soccer during her time in Northern Ireland. Creating a space for players to enhance their skills while having a good time is the backbone of the Ravens' team culture. Ravens' head coach David O'Reilly says, "We make sure that everyone buys into what we're doing and comes to the club ready to make valued teammates and lifelong friends."
O'Reilly wants to make sure the Ravens organization is a comfortable environment for every player, especially for beginners and those getting back into the game. Miller noticed a greater emphasis on intrinsic rewards from sport and enjoying the time spent with teammates on and off the field. This mindset helped Miller regain a love for the sport through what she calls "a no-pressure, love of the game experience."
Soccer in the United States embedded a focus on technique and game tactics in Miller's playing style. In Belfast, Miller had to adjust and become comfortable playing with teammates of varying skill levels. O'Reilly highlights Miller's excellent understanding of the game and her ability to help teammates when it came to technical adjustments. Miller also found ways to learn from her teammates. When she shared her game knowledge and technique with her teammates, they showed her how to be bold on the ball and unafraid of making mistakes.
"[Miller] has a lot more confidence, and she seems to have more of a presence on the field," DePauw goalie Aubree Empie says. Empie and the team have noticed that this part of Miller's game has improved since playing overseas.
O'Reilly speaks very highly of Miller's influence on the team, saying, "Macy is one of, if not the best player we've ever had at Belfast Ravens." Her understanding of the game is what really made her stand out and bring a new perspective to the team. Miller has built these strong foundations to her game and maintained these skills with her steadfast work ethic. Empie says, "[Miller] is the person on our team who is most likely to put in extra work before or after practice." It is not unusual for Miller to ask Empie for some extra reps or ask the coaches to leave a bag of balls for her to shoot after practice. She uses these moments to focus just on soccer, drowning out the outside noise that comes with being a student-athlete. She leads by example in this way, showing her teammates how to work hard on the pitch and have fun outside of the game.
This season, DePauw women's soccer hopes to defend its North Coast Athletic Conference title, so keeping the game focused, yet fun, is crucial. Miller says, "Belfast taught me a lot about enjoying the process and enjoying your time with your teammates", an attitude she says she is trying to incorporate into her mindset as a senior.
Along with the team's values of hard work, being coachable, and having good attitudes, Miller aims to romanticize the little moments – the bus rides, hotel stays, and team meals. Empie has noticed Miller doing just that. "She knows it's her last year and wants to enjoy everything as much as she can," Empie says. She has shown this in reaching out to get to know her teammates better and making a point to give her undivided attention during team bonding activities.
Although Miller understands that the competitive environment of soccer is ending, Belfast showed her that the love for the game doesn't have to end. She aims to return to Belfast after graduation and pursue a Master's in Education Studies through Queen's University.
